{
  "id": 6120592,
  "title": "UK jobs seekers rise despite recovery in permanent hiring",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/uk-jobs-seekers-rise-despite-recovery-in-permanent-hiring",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-07T07:34:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/uk-jobs-seekers-rise-despite-recovery-in-permanent-hiring/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In August, the number of job seekers in the UK surged as redundancies surged and employment insecurity grew, despite a tentative recovery in permanent hiring. Total staff availability surged to its fastest rate in three months as a wave of Brits searching for jobs entered the market. This surge was fueled by ongoing corporate layoffs and mounting worries about job security, according to the most recent employment report from KPMG and recruiter REC.\n\nPermanent job placements managed a slight increase, with the index reaching 50.5, marking the first growth in permanent hiring since September 2022. Meanwhile, temporary billings climbed to 52.4, as cautious employers favored flexible, short-term contracts over long-term hires.\n\nJon Holt, the group chief executive and UK senior partner at KPMG, noted this as a positive sign after a prolonged hiring slump. However, he emphasized that the overall jobs market is still contracting. Holt added that the upcoming first Budget for Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey presents an opportunity for the government to transform these early signs of recovery into sustained positive momentum.\n\nMaxine Bligh, interim chief executive of REC, warned against taking the job market for granted. She urged the government to follow through on its commitment to reducing business burdens. Bligh highlighted that improving momentum in the jobs market means greater pragmatic approaches on employment rights, including addressing the government's gamble with its guaranteed hours policy. She also stressed the importance of an Autumn Budget that demonstrates the government's commitment to backing businesses and providing employers with the confidence they need to hire, invest, and grow.",
  "summary": "Rising redundancies and heightened employment insecurity drove a sharp increase in UK job seekers in August despite the permanent hiring market showing its first signs of recovery in nearly four years. Total staff availability rose at its fastest rate in three months as Brits hunting for roles flooded the market. This influx was triggered by [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}